“It’s the way I like to fight,” Foster said of the tourney format. “(I) like to fight all the time, and this tournament format is perfect for me. My body feels great, and I’m feeling really good about getting ready to go for March.”

Although he was in the midst of a 3-1 run in the organization, the UFC surprisingly released Foster this past year. The hard-hitting fighter was medically released after a pre-fight medical examine revealed a brain hemorrhage. Foster was cleared shortly after, but the UFC didn’t re-sign him. Since his UFC release, Foster has picked up a pair of wins outside the organization. On Oct. 1, he scored a first-round submission victory over Jack Mason in a featured Cage Warriors 44 bout. Fourteen days later, he submitted Laverne Clark at CCCW 7. Combined, his two opponents had a 44-26-1 record.

In addition to the welterweight tournament, Bellator is hosting
season-six tourneys in the bantamweight, featherweight, lightweight and
middleweight divisions. Each tourney winner gets $100,000 in total pay
and a guaranteed title shot. In the welterweight division, it’d come against Ben Askren.

“I hope he’s ready for an ass-whopping,” Foster said. “He’s going to try to take me down, and I’m going to try and knock his head off. Simple as that.”

For more on Bellator’s upcoming season, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of the site.

As the UFC 189 tour made its last stop in Dublin, featherweight champ Jose Aldo was met with a torrent of abuse from the Irish fans. It might have been unpleasant, but it might also have been just what he needed.